THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 257 
exceeding 8 feet in height, and a much-branched, heavy crown, 
with very large leaf, cut up in the form of a large digit, much 
more pronounced than the horse chestnut. The leaves, on 
falling, rot and form a heavy layer of black humus. In the 
dry season the dew condenses to such an extent on the leaves 
that the tree drips in the morning, and the neighbourhood of 
such trees is always moist when the rest of the forest is dry. 
The large, rough, elongated, pear-shaped fruit, like an 
overgrown sweetsop, is quite characteristic of this tree. 
It is found in the Ondo, Benin, Owerri, Warri, Calabar 
and Ogoja provinces of Nigeria. 
It is scarcely big enough for timber, but would make a good 
undergrowth for a light-loving species such as mahogany or 
teak, and would kill all weeds on good soil. Usually found 
on good soil. The timber is white and soft. 
No botanical name. Iragbo-Amuje (Yoruba); Igogo (Benin). 
It is a large tree with almost hard white wood, more the 
texture of Triplochiton. The fruit is a drupe, with a small 
nut inside. Termites do not attack the wood. It is a quick- 
growing tree, which comes up very frequently in old farms. 
It is a common tree in the Benin country. 
It is a shade-bearer. 
Native Use.—In the Benin country it is used for door lintels 
and cross-pieces in house-building. 
Urticacezx. 
Urera. Ela (Yoruba); Akinrankiri (Benin). 
Found in the Yoruba and Benin countries. 
Proteacez. 
Faurea speciosa. Red-brown timber. 
Found in the Calabar province. 
Olacacee. 
Heisteria parvifolia. White Nut (?). Ikereoha (Benin). 
It rarely exceeds the height of about 8 feet and a girth 
of about 1 foot. 
This is a small shrub with red flowers of four petals at right 
angles to each other, in the middle of which a white-coloured 
fruit forms. On peeling off the white skin, a black nut is 
disclosed, which is edible. It tastes more like a hazel-nut. 
The red flower is the most distinguishing feature, and makes 
this plant show up amongst the evergreen zone. 
It is found in the Ondo, Benin, and Calabar provinces of 
Nigeria. 
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